Ball valves

ABSTRACT

A flow-control glass ball-valve including a glass valve-housing having a valve-chamber therein and an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom opposite each other, a trunnion-free or pivotless glass valve-ball having a fluid passageway therethrough whose ends operatively register with the inlet and outlet, respectively, when the valve-ball is in its fully open position, said valveball being rotatably supported within said chamber without contact with the walls thereof by two circular ball-mounting sealing-rings of Teflon or the like mounted in the valve-housing in operative juxtaposition to the inlet and outlet, respectively, and each ring supportingly contacting a spherical surface of the valve-ball along substantially more than half circle in all positions of the valve-ball about its rotation axis, a ballturning valve-stem extending through and sealedly journalled in the valve-housing with its axis generally at a right angle to the axis of the inlet and outlet and having a loose operative interconnection with the valve-ball for rotating it about an axis generally at a right angle to the axis of the inlet and outlet and generally limiting its rotation to rotation about said axis, and generally cardioid-shaped radially-extending intersecting flow-affecting edges at an end of said passageway, said intersecting edges being in proximity of the diametral plane of the valve-ball which is generally at a right angle to its axis of rotation and in which the axes of the inlet and outlet lie.

O Umted States Patent 3,773,291

Gr uer Nov. 20, 1973 [541 BALL VALVES 548,831 10/1956 ltaly 251/309 [75Inventor: Oscar H. Grauer,Warminster, Pa.

Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek [73] Assignee: F Ischer & PorterCompany, Anomey Leonard L Kahsh Warminster, Pa.

22 Filed: Mar. 30, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT A flow-control glass ball-valveincluding a glass valve- [211 App! 23917 housing having a valve-chambertherein and an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom opposite eachother, a [52] US. Cl. 251/315, 251/209 trunnion-free or pivotless glassvalve-ball having a [51] Int. Cl. F16k 5/06 fluid passagewaytherethrough whose ends operatively [58] Field of Search 251/315, 209,208, register with the inlet and outlet, respectively, when 251/368,148, 172, 185, 298, 309; 137/6253 the valve-ball is in its fully openposition, said valveball being rotatably supported within said chamber[5 6] References Cited without contact with the walls thereof by twocircular UNITED STATES PATENTS ball-mounting sealing-rings of Teflon orthe like mounted in the valve-housing in operative juxtaposition to theinlet and outlet, respectively, and each ring 3:314:643 4/1967 Sachnik251509 supportingly contacting a spherical surface of the 3,379,4084/1968 Lowrey 251 /298 valve-ball along Substantially more than halfCircle in 3,520,513 4/1970 Okerblom 251/298 x all posi ions of thevalve-ball about its rotation axis, a 1,080,892 12/1913 Chandler 251/315X ball-turning valve-stem extending through and sealedly 2,985,191 1961Beckett et 25l/315 X journalled in the valve-housing with its axisgenerally 3,148,695 9/1964 Groen et a1 251/315 X at a right angle to thei f the inlet and outlet and 3,503,415 3/1970 De Angells et a1. 251/315X having a loose operative interconnection with the 565,730 8/1896 Foote251 309 valveban for rotating it about an axis generally at 3 2,510,5146/1950 Mueller.. 251/209 2,222,675 11/1940 Lyngerm 251,209 X rightangleto the axis of the Inlet and outlet and gen- 3,403887 10/1963251/209 erally limiting Its rotation to rotation about saId axis, 3 4092 9 3 Gachot 251/143 and generally cardioid-shaped radially-extendinginter- 2,926,885 3/1960 Szulc et a1 251/368 secting flow-affecting edgesat an end of said passage- 3,19l,906 6/1965 Zeigler et aL. 251 /208 way,said intersecting edges being in proximity of the 3,456,916 7/1969 Ylzenet 251/315 X diametral plane of the valve-ball which is generally at3,536,296 10/1970 Burris 251/208 3 right angle to its axis f rotationand in Which the FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS axes of the inlet andoutlet 637,261 5/1950 Great Britain 251/209 Claims, Drawing Figures753,510 10/1950 Germany 251/309 Nov. 20, 1973 United States Patent 1Grauer CARD/O/D SHAPED NOTCH PAIENTEDHUVZO 197s SHEET 1 OF 3 CA RD/O/DSHA PED N0 TC H CARD/O/D .S'HA PED J/, l3-A Fig. 3.

TO OPEN 28 INVENTOR.

OSCAR H. GRAUER TO CLOSE A T TORNE Y PATENTEB NOV 20 I973 SHE REF 3CARD/O/D SHA PED N0 TCH Fig. Z

CA RD/ 0/0 2%? F m. 6.

26 T0 OPEN a wzm /5 TO CLOSE /3-A TO CLOSE INVENTOR.

OSCAR H. GRAUER BY W ATTUR/VE X TO OPEN PMENTED NOV 2 0 1975 SHFFT 3 CF3 EDGE CONVEXLY FLOWAFFECT/N6' CURVED X EDGE i /3-0 X CONCA VELY CURVEDFig. /0

INVENTOR.

OSCAR H. GRAUER BY WMW A TTORNE Y BALL VALVES THE FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to ball valves of the type disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 3,503,415 issued Mar. 31, 1970 on co-pending U.S. Pat.application Ser. No. 556,071 filed June 8, 1966 and in U.S. Pat. No.3,547,403 issued Dec. 15. 1970 on co-pending application Ser. No.790,362 filed Jan. 10, 1969, in which a rotatable valve-ball isoperatively mounted within the valve-chamber of a generally tubularvalve-housing out of contact with the walls of the valve-chamber, by twoball-mounting sealing-rings within the valve-housing in operativejuxtaposition to the inlet and outlet thereof, respectively, and twostationary end-members at and the extending transversly across the endsof the valvehousing, at least one of which is detachably secured to thevalve-housing, and in which the two end-members press the ball-mountingsealing-rings against the valveball.

THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Among the objects of the present inventionis a ballvalve which will have a lesser tendency to become clogged or tohave its closing obstructed by fluidentrained solid particles and whichwill permit a better fine-incremental throttling at the lower flow ratesas the valve-ball approaches its fully closed position, and which willnot tend to turn by itself in the closing direction under the influenceof a high-velocity flow-stream when the ball-valve thereof approachesits closed position.

THE PRIOR-ART The prior-art is represented by the prior ball-valvepatents cited in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,503,415 and3,547,403 issued on co-pending applications Ser. Nos. 556,071 & 790,362,respectively, and by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,076,802, 2,883,147, 3,191,906 &3,446,477 and French Pat. No. 831,862, which latter five patentsdisclose valves including a sphericallysurfaced movable valve-elementwhose spherical surface is substantially less than half a sphere andwhich is fixedly pivoted by a pivot-shaft or by trunnions and whichderives its support either from a pivot-shaft or 4 trunnions or fromcontact with the spherical wall of the valvechamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one embodiment of my presentinvention, I either provide two diametrically opposite generallyV-shaped or cardioid shaped notches in or across the two opposite lipsof the cylindrical fluid passageway which extends through atrunnion-free valve-ball supported only by opposite ball mounting andsealing Teflon rings, each notch so located that it will be generallybisected by the diametral plane of the valve-ball which is at a rightangle to its axis of rotation, or the fluid passageway itself is made ofa polygonal cross-section whose two opposite apex-lines lie in theaforementioned diametral plane, or the fluid-passageway may be open onone side, with one such notch in one of the lips of the passageway, inthe aforementioned diametral plane. In the ball-valve of the presentinvention the ball-valve is supported only by two circular ball mountingand sealing rings each of which makes a circular sealing and mountingcontact with the valve-ball along substantially more than a half circlein all positions thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 represents a partiallycross-sectional view of an embodiment of the ball-valve of the presentinvention, in which the valve-ball has a generally cylindricalfluid-passageway therethrough, with two diametrally oppositecardioid-shaped notches in or across the two opposite circular lips ofthe passageway, with each notch bisected into two generally equal halvesby the diametral plane of the valve-ball which is at a right angle toits axis of rotation.

FIG. 2 represents a view of the valve-ball of FIG. 1, and its twomounting-and-sealing rings, viewed along the axis of the passagewaytherethrough or on line 2-2 of FIG. 3, with the valve-ball shown in itsclosed position.

FIG. 3 represents a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showingthe valve-ball in its closed position.

FIG. 4 represents a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but with thevalve-ball turned to its open position.

FIG. 5 represents a cross-sectional view of the valvehousing and a viewof a valve-ball therein similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, but inwhich one side of the passageway through the valve-ball is entirelyopen; and showing the valve-ball in its closed position.

FIG. 6 represents the valve-ball shown in FIG. 7, and itsmounting-and-sealing rings, as viewed in line 6-6 of FIG. 5, but showingthe valve-ball in its open position.

FIG. 7 represents a cross-sectional view on line 7-7 of FIG. 5, showingthe valve-ball in its closed position.

FIG. 8 represents a view of a valve-ball (and its mounting-and-sealingrings) as viewed along the axis of the passageway therethrough or online 88 of FIG. 9, similar to the valve-ball shown in FIG. 2, butrepresenting another embodiment of my invention, namely, one in whichthe passageway is a four-sided (or other polygonally cross-sectionedhole), with two opposite apexlines of two opposite sets of adjacentsides lying in the aforementioned diametral plane, showing the valveballin its closed position.

FIG. 9 represents a partial cross-sectional view on line 9-9 of FIG. 8,also showing the valve-ball in its closed position.

FIG. 10 represents a view of a valve-ball similar to that shown in FIG.8 & 9, but in which one side of the through-passageway is entirely open,as viewed diametrically through its passageway or on line 10-10 of FIG.1, and showing the valve-ball in its closed position.

FIG. 11 represents a cross-sectional view on line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The generallytubular valve-body or valve-housing 1 is preferably formed ofboro-silicate glass or other essentially vitreous material or a ceramicmaterial or a glass-ceramic composite, or is lined therewith, and has acylindrical bore constituting a valve-chamber and is provided with astem-mounting extension or bonnet 2 in which the valve-stem 3 isrotatably journalled or mounted in sealing rings and is suitably sealedagainst the passage of fluid under pressure in any conventional manneror in the manner shown in aforementioned trangible or impact-resistantmaterial. The closure members 4 are pressed against the ends of thehousing 1 by means of bolts 5 which extend through holes in the closuremembers 4 and through the pipe-coupling flanges 6 by which the glasspipes 7 are operatively mounted to the closure members 4.

A generally spool-shaped sealing member 8 of Teflon or the like, havinginner sealing discs 9 and outer sealing discs 10, is operatively mountedto each closure member 4, in the manner indicated in FIG. 1, andresilient washers 11 of Viton or other suitable rubberlike or resilientplastic material are interposed between the sealing discs 9 & of thespool-like sealingmembers 8 and the corresponding faces of the closuremembers 4.

The valve-balls 13-A, l3-B, 13-C & 13-D are also preferably made of orcoated with bore-silicate glass or other vitreous or ceramic material.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a generally cylindrical fluidpassageway 14A extends through the valve-ball 13-A, with its axis lyingin a diameter of the valve-ball. The valve-ball l3-A is mounted in thecylindrical valve chamber constituted by the interior of thevalve-housing 1, out of contact with the walls of such valve-chamber,only to two ball mounting and sealing rings 15 & 16 of Teflon or othersuitable plastic having resiliency, cold flow and other characteristicsof Teflon.

The ball-mounting and sealing rings 15 & 16 are preferably of the formand construction shown and described in aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.3,547,403 issued on co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 790,362filed Jan. 10, 1969, as generally indicated in FIGS. 1 & 5 and 8 to 11,although they may be of the conventional form and construction indicatedin FIGS. 2, 4, 6 & 7; the present invention not being limited to theparticular form or construction of the sealing rings 15 8c 16. Ofwhatever form and construction, the ball mounting and sealing rings 15 &16 form fluid seals with the closure members 4 or with the inner-sealingdiscs 9 thereof and form a fluid seal with the inner cylindrical wall ofthe valve-housing 1, and at least one of said rings forms afull-circular seal with the spherical surface of the valve-ball 13 whenthe latter is in its closed position indicated in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 & 7 to11.

The various other features or details of the construction of theball-valve which are not fully shown in the accompanying drawings norexpressly described herein, may be in accordance with correspondingdetails of construction shown and described in aforementioned U.S. Pat.No. 3,503,415 issued on co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.556,071 filed June 8,

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, the fluidthrough-passageway 14A is generally cylindrical in cross-section withits axis at a right angle to its axis of rotation of the valve-ball 13-Aindicated by the line X-X. When the valve-ball 13-A is in its openposition shown in FIGS. 1 & 4, the circular ends or lips 28 & 29 of thepassageway 14A are generally in registration or in operative alignmentwith the inlet or outlet of the valve-housing 1 constituted by thecylindrical passageways extending through the central cylindricalportions of the spool-shaped sealing members 8 or constituted by thecentral holes 18 in the ball mounting and sealing rings 15 and 16.

Generally V-shaped notches or grooves 31 & 31, preferably of cardioidshape, are extended across each of the two opposite lips 28 & 29 of thepassageway 14A, with the apex-lines or apex-zones 26 of the groovesextending between points on the surface or passageway 14A substantiallyinwardly from the lips thereof and points on the spherical outer surfaceof the valve-ball at a substantial distance from said lips, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 4. The depth as well as the configuration of the grooves orchannels may be varied according to the throttling characteristicsdesired. The two grooves or channels 30 & 31 in the opposite lips 28 &29 of the passageway 14A are at diametrically opposite points on saidlips, and each groove or channel 30 & 31 is preferably distributedequally on opposite sides of the diametral plane of the valve-ball whichis at a right angle to its axis of rotation X-X.

As shown particularly in FIG. 1, the handle 76 is provided on thevalve-stem 3, and the two suitable stops therefor, spaced approximatelyapart, limit the rotation of the stem 3 and of the valve-ball l3-A toapproximately 90" or to somewhat less than 90 between 21 fully openposition and a fully closed ppsition of the valve-ball, as indicatedparticularly in FIGS. 1, 5, 6 & 9 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,415 issued onaforementioned co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 556,07 1.

The pair of diametrically opposite notches or grooves 30 & 31 not onlyprovide fine-incremental throttling as the valve-ball approaches itsclosed position, but also tend to prevent or minimize clogging of thevalve and the obstruction of the final closing turning of its valveballby solid particles entrained in the fluid passing through the valve, andalso provide greater rangeability for the valve. The cardioid channelsor grooves also obviate the otherwise shallow meniscus type openingbetween the lips 28 & 29 of the through-passageway and the edge of thehole 18 of the ball mounting and sealing rings 15 and/or 16 as theopening between such lip or lips and the hole or holes 18 graduallydecreases during the closing or down-throttling of the valve.

Another advantage of the double cardioid glass or double notchedball-valve construction lies in its obviating the otherwise undesirableturning characteristic of ordinary ball-valves. Under conditions ofhigh-fluid velocity, there is a tendency in conventional ball-valves forthe momentum of the high-velocity flowing stream to rotate the balltoward the closing direction, to complete closure, unless prevented bymechanical means. In the double cardioid ball-valve or double notchedconstruction hereof, this tendency to rotate does not occur at highvelocities of flow and no mechanical precautions are required topreclude such rotation.

The embodiment indicated in FIGS; 5, 6 & 7 is similar to the embodimentshown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and differs therefrom in that thethrough-passageway 14B of thevalve-ball 13-3 of the embodiment of FIGS.5, 6 & 7 is open on one side. The cardioid-shaped or V-shaped notch 30extends across the lip 28 of the passageway 14B and permits thefine-incremental throttling or control of the flow when the valve-ballis near its closed position;- this notch 30 likewise straddling thediametral plane of the valve-ball which is at a right angle to its axisof rotation.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 & 9, the through-passage 14C in thevalve-ball l3-C has a polygonal cross-section, as, for instance, squarecrosssection or has a cross-section of a parallelogram, with theapex-lines 32 & 33 of opposite pairs of side-walls 34 & 35 being in theaforementioned diarnetral plane of the valve-ball 13 which is at a rightangle to its axis of rotation X-X.

Instead of being planar however, the side-walls 34 & 35 may be convexlycurved as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 8 or may be concavely curvedas indicated by dotted or broken lines in FIG. 8, so as to presentcardioid-shaped or curved V-shaped lips or intersecting flow-affectingedges 36 to the edges of the inlet and outlet openings 18 in the ballsealing and mounting rings 15 & 16 as the valve-ball 13 approaches itsclosed position, thereby again providing fine-incremental throttling inthe lower flow ranges of the valve and preventing or minimizing cloggingor obstructing the closing of the valve with fluid-entrained solidparticles and generally providing greater rangeability.

Each facing pair of side-walls 34 & 35 present (to the circular edges ofthe holes 18 in the sealing-rings l5 & 16) correspondingly shapedintersecting flow-affecting edges 36 at the ends of thethrough-passageway, whose intersection is in the aforementioneddiametral plane of the valve-ball 13-C. Such intersecting edges 36affect the flow in a manner similar to that of the notches 31 & 31.

Instead of having the pairs of side-walls 34 & 35 formed as continuoussurfaces, of which the terminal portions 36 intersect at 32 and 33, theportions of said walls 34 and 35 inwardly of the terminal portions 36thereof may be' cylindrical. Thus, the throughpassageway 14C may begenerally or in the main of cylindrical cross-section, with only smalldiametrically opposite through-channels 36 extending radially outwardlytherefrom. The surfaces of such throughchannels 36 may be of any of theforms indicated in FIGS. 8 or described above. The intersections 32 & 33between the side-walls 34 & 35 or between the correspondingthrough-channels 36 extend outwardly and form an otherwise cylindricalthrough-passageway, which may be slightly filleted.

The embodiment indicated in FIGS. & 11 is the same as the embodimentshown in or described above in respect to FIGS. 8 & 9, excepting onlythat the through-passageway 14D of the valve-ball 13-D of the embodimentof FIGS. 10 & 11 is open on one side. As in the embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 8 & 9, so in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 & 11, theside-walls 34 & 35 may be convexly curved as indicated in solid lines inFIG. 8 or they may be concavely curved as illustrated in dotted orbroken lines in FIG. 8. The sidewalls 34 & 35 present cardioid-shapededges or curved V-shaped lips 36 to the edge of the inlet or outletopenings 18 in the ball sealing and mounting rings or 16 as thevalve-ball 13-D approaches its closed position.

Due to the lack of any tendency for the valve-ball to rotate under theinfluence of high-velocity flow, the ball valves of the presentinvention are eminently suitable for use as on-off valves and for use asmanuallyoperated flow-control valves. Due to its extended rangeabilityand sensitivity, the ball-valves of the present invention may also bepower-operated both for onoff uses as well as for incrementalflow-control or for flow regulation, by operatively connecting thehandle 76 thereof to any suitable pneumatically or electrically poweredvalve-actuator which may turn the handle 76 and hence the valve-stem 3and the valve-ball (l3-A, l3-B, l3-C & 13-D) directly to an on positionor to an off position or which may turn said valve-ball incrementallyeither in its flow-increasing or in its flowdecreasing directionresponsive to pneumatic or electrical signals determined by any suitablesensors which may sense the temperature, pressure, flow-rate, pH orother process conditions or parameters.

I may also form the valve-housing l and the valveball (l3-A, l3-B, 13-C& l3-D) of metal, and I may also glass-line such metallic valve-housingand may glass-coat such metallic valve-ball.

The leading edge or edges of the passageway (14A, 14B, 14C, 14D) of thevalve-ball (13-A, 13B, 13C & 13-D) may be formed to a knife-shape, so asto produce a shearing action when moved past the sealing-rings 15 and/or16 towards the closed position of the valve-ball, so as to cut anyfibrous or soft material which may be entrained in the fluid. Suchshearing action is provided for by having the terminal portions 36 ofthe side-walls 34 & 35 of the through-passageways (14C or 14D) intersectthe outer spherical surface with the valve-ball (l3-C & 13-D) in a sharpedge, as indicated in FIGS. 8 & 10.

As used in the following claims, the word glass is intended tocomprehend the so characterized member whether formed of or lined withglass or other essentially vitreous material or a ceramic material or aglasscerarnic composite.

The valve-housing 1 and the valve-ball (13-A, 13-B, 13-C & 13-D) arepreferably made of tempered glass, and preferably of temperedboro-silicate glass.

Having shown and described embodiments of my invention, I claim thefollowing.

1. A ball-valve including a valve-housing having a valve-chamber thereinand an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom opposite each other, agenerally U- shaped valve-ball in said valve-chamber, the U shape ofsaid valve-ball being formed by a channel therethrough which extendsthereinto beyond the axis thereof, said U-shaped valve-ball beingsupported in said valvechamber out of contact with the walls thereofonly by the below-described circular ball mounting and sealing rings andarranged to rotate about an axis at a right angle to the plane in whichthe axes of said inlet and outlet lie, said channel in said valve-ballforming a fluid passageway extending therethrough, said passageway beinggenerally U-shaped in cross-section in a plane at a right angle theretoand in which its axis of rotation lies and being open on one sidethereof to give the valve-ball its U shape, and the ends of saidU-shaped fluid passageway operatively registering with said inlet andoutlet, respectively, when the valve-ball is in its fully open position,the outer surfaces of the legs of the U of said valve-ball beingspherical segments of the outer shperical surface of the valve-ballco-axial with its axis of rotation, said valve-ball being rotatablysupported within said valve-chamber without contact with the wallsthereof by the two below-described circular ball-mounting sealing-ringsmounted in the valvehousing in operative juxtaposition to said inlet andoutlet, respectively, and each of said ball-mounting sealing-ringssupportingly contacting the outer spherical surface of the valve-ball inits fully open position along a continuous annulus-shaped area which issubstantially more than a half circle and the downstream ballsupportingsealing-ring supportingly contacting the outer spherical surface of thevalve-ball in its fully closed position along a full-circularannulus-shaped area and the upstream ball-mounting sealing-ringsupportingly contacting the outer spherical surfaces of the free ends ofthe legs of the U of the valve-ball in its fully closed position alongtwo separated concentric and diametrically opposite annulus-shapedareas, one above and one below the median plane between the legs of theU, and intersecting flow-affecting edges at an end of said generallyU-shaped through passageway of said valve-ball, said intersectingflow-affecting edges being generally disposed in proximity of thediametral plane of the valve-ball which is generally at a right angle toits axis of rotation and in which the axes of the inlet and outlet lie,the intersection of said flow-affecting edges being outside afull-circular annulus-shaped sealingcontact area between said sphericalsurface and the ball-mounting sealing ring when the valve-ball is in itsclosed position, whereby there will be no flow past said interesectingedges when the valve-ball is in its fully closed position.

2. A ball valve according to claim 1, having a glass valve-housing and aglass valve-ball.

3. A ball valve according to claim 1, in which the intersectingflow-affecting edges at the end of the passageway are disposed generallyin a V-shape.

4. A ball valve according to claim 1, in which the intersectingflow-affecting edges at the end of the passageway are convexly curved.

5. A ball valve according to claim 1, in which the intersectingflow-affecting edges at the end of the passageway are concavely curved.

6. A ball valve according to claim 1, in which the intersectingflow-affecting edges at the end of the passageway are cardioid-shaped.

7. A valve-ball according to claim 1 in which the valve-housing istubular and has a generally cylindrical bore constituting thevalve-chamber therein and in which there are two stationary end-membersat and extending transversely across the ends of such valvehousing andconstituting closures at the ends of said valve-housing constituting theends of the valvechamber, at least one of which end-members beingdetachably secured to the valve-housing, and in which such twoend-members press the ball mounting and sealing rings against thevalve-ball.

8. A ball-valve including a valve-housing having a valve-chamber thereinand an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom opposite each other, agenerally U- shaped valve-ball in said valve-chamber, the U shape ofsaid valve-ball being formed by a channel therethrough which extendsthereinto beyond the axis thereof, said U-shaped valve-ball beingarranged to rotate about an axis at a right angle to the plane in whichthe axes of said inlet and outlet lie, said channel in said valve-ballforming a fluid passageway extending therethrough, said passageway beinggenerally U-shaped in crosssection in a plane at a right angle theretoand in which its axis of rotation lies and being open on one sidethereof to give the valve-ball its U-shape, and the ends thereofoperatively registering with said inlet and outlet, respectively, whenthe valve-ball is in its fully open position, the outer surfaces of thelegs of the U of said valve-ball being spherical segments of the outerspherical surface and the valve-ball co-axial with its axis of rotation,said valve-ball being rotatably supported within said valve-chamberwithout contact with the walls thereof by the two below-describedcircular ballmounting sealing-rings mounted in the valve-housing inoperative juxtaposition to said inlet and outlet, respectively, each ofsaid ball-mounting sealing-rings supportingly contacting the outerspherical surface of the valve-ball in its fully open position along acontinuous annulus-shaped area which is substantially more than a halfcircle and the downstream ball-supporting sealingring supportinglycontacting the outer spherical surface of the valve-ball in its fullyclosed position along a fullcircular annulus-shaped area and theupstream ballmounting sealing-ring supportingly contacting the outerspherical surfaces of the free ends of the legs of the U of thevalve-ball in its fully closed position along two separated concentricand diametrically opposite annulus-shaped areas, one above and one belowthe median plane between the legs of the U, and a flowaffecting notchacross a lip at an end of said generally U-shaped through passageway ofsaid valve-ball and extending radially outwardly from said passageway,said notch being generally disposed in proximity of the diametral planeof the valve-ball which is generally at a right angle to its axis ofrotation and in which the axes of the inlet and outlet lie, the end ofsaid notch which is in the spherical surface of the valve-ball beingoutside the full-circular annulus-shaped sealing-contact area betweensaid spherical surface and the ballmounting sealing-ring when the valveball is in its closed position.

9. A ball valve according to claim 8, having a glass valve-housing and aglass valve-ball.

10. A ball valve according to claim 8, in which the flow-affecting notchis V shaped.

11. A ball valve according to claim 8, in which the flow-affecting notchis cardioid shaped.

12. A valve ball according to claim 8 in which the valve housing istubular and has a generally cylindrical bore constituting thevalve-chamber therein and in which there are two stationary end-membersat and extending transversely across the ends of such valvehousing andconstituting closures at the ends of said valve-housing constituting theends of the valvechamber, at least one of which end-members beingdetachably secured to the valve-housing, and in which such twoend-members press the ball mounting and sealing rings against thevalve-ball.

13. A ball-valve including a valve-housing having a valve-chambertherein and an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom opposite eachother, a generally U- shaped valve-ball rotatably supported in saidvalvechamber, the U shape of said valve-ball being formed by a channeltherethrough which extends thereinto beyond the axis thereof, saidU-shaped valve-ball being arranged to rotate about an axis at a rightangle to the plane in which the axes of said inlet and outlet lie, saidchannel in said valve-ball forming a fluid passageway extendingtherethrough, said passageway being generally U-shaped in cross-sectionin a plane at a right angle thereto and in which its axis of rotationlies and being open on one side thereof to give the valve-ball its Ushape, and the ends thereof operatively registering with said inlet andoutlet, respectively, when the valve-ball is in its fully open position,the outer surfaces of the legs of the U of said valve-ball beingspherical segments of the outer spherical surface of the valve-ballco-axial with its axis of rotation, and two circular ball-sealing ringsmounted in the valve-housing in operative juxtaposition to said inletand outlet, respectively, each of said ball-sealing rings contacting aspherical surface of the valve-ball in its fully open position along acontinuous annulus-shaped area which is substantially more than a halfcircle and the downstream ball-sealing ring contacting the sphericalsurface of the valve-ball in its fully closed position along afull-circular annulusshaped area and the upstream ball-sealing ringcontacting the outer spherical surfaces of the free ends of the legs ofthe U of the valve-ball in its fully closed position along two separatedconcentric and diametrically opposite annulus-shaped areas, one aboveand one below the median plane between the legs of the U.

14. A ball-valve according to claim 13, having a glass valve-housing anda glass valve-ball.

15. A valve-ball according to claim 14 in which the valve-housing istubular and has a generally cylindrical bore constituting thevalve-chamber therein and in which there are two stationary end-membersat and extending transversely across the ends of such valvehousing andconstituting closures at the ends of said valve-housing constituting theends of the valvechambers, at least one of which end-members beingdetachably secured to the valve-housing, and in which such twoend-members press the ball mounting and sealing rings against thevalve-ball.

16. A valve-ball according to claim 13 in which the valve-housing istubular and has a generally cylindrical bore constituting thevalve-chamber therein and in which there are two stationary end-membersat and extending transversely across the ends of such valvehousing andconstituting closures at the ends of said valve-housing constituting theends of the valvechambers, at least one of which end-members beingdetachably secured to the valve-housing, and in which such twoend-members press the ball mounting and sealing rings against thevalve-ball.

1. A ball-valve including a valve-housing having a valve-chamber thereinand an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom opposite each other, agenerally U-shaped valve-ball in said valvechamber, the U shape of saidvalve-ball being formed by a channel therethrough which extendsthereinto beyond the axis thereof, said U-shaped valve-ball beingsupported in said valve-chamber out of contact with the walls thereofonly by the below-described circular ball mounting and sealing rings andarranged to rotate about an axis at a right angle to the plane in whichthe axes of said inlet and outlet lie, said channel in said valve-ballforming a fluid passageway extending therethrough, said passageway beinggenerally U-shaped in cross-section in a plane at a right angle theretoand in which its axis of rotation lies and being open on one sidethereof to give the valve-ball its U shape, and the ends of saidU-shaped fluid passageway operatively registering with said inlet andoutlet, respectively, when the valve-ball is in its fully open position,the outer surfaces of the legs of the U of said valve-ball beingspherical segments of the outer shperical surface of the valve-ballco-axial with its axis of rotation, said valve-ball being rotatablysupported within said valve-chamber without contact with the wallsthereof by the two below-described circular ball-mounting sealing-ringsmounted in the valve-housing in operative juxtaposition to said inletand outlet, respectively, and each of said ball-mounting sealing-ringssupportingly contacting the outer spherical surface of the valve-ball inits fully open position along a continuous annulus-shaped area which issubstantially more than a half circle and the downstream ball-supportingsealing-ring supportingly contacting the outer spherical surface of thevalveball in its fully closed position along a full-circularannulusshaped area and the upstream ball-mounting sealing-ringsupportingly contacting the outer spherical surfaces of the free ends ofthe legs of the U of the valve-ball in its fully closed position alongtwo separated concentric and diametrically opposite annulus-shapedareas, one above and one below the median plane between the legs of theU, and intersecting flow-affecting edges at an end of said generallyU-shaped through passageway of said valve-ball, said intersectingflow-affecting edges being generally disposed in proximity of thediametral plane of the valve-ball which is generally at a right angle toits axis of rotation and in which the axes of the inlet and outlet lie,the intersection of said flow-affecting edges being outside afullcircular annulus-shaped sealing-contact area between said sphericalsurface and the ball-mounting sealing ring when the valve-ball is in itsclosed position, whereby there will be no flow past said interesectingedges when the valve-ball is in its fully closed position.
 2. A ballvalve according to claim 1, having a glass valve-housing and a glassvalve-ball.
 3. A ball valve according to claim 1, in which theintersecting flow-affecting edges at the end of the passageway aredisposed generally in a V-shape.
 4. A ball valve according to claim 1,in which the intersecting flow-affecting edges at the end of thepassageway are convexly curved.
 5. A ball valve according to claim 1, inwhich the intersecting flow-affecting edges at the end of the passagewayare concavely curved.
 6. A ball valve according to claim 1, in which theintersecting flow-affecting edges at the end of the passageway arecardioid-shaped.
 7. A valve-ball according to claim 1 in which thevalve-housing is tubular and has a generally cylindrical boreconstituting the valve-chamber therein and in which there are twostationary end-members at and extending transversely across the ends ofsuch valve-housing and constituting closures at the ends of saidvalve-housing constituting the ends of the valve-chamber, at least oneof which end-members being detachably secured to the valve-housing, andin which such two end-members press the ball mounting and sealing ringsagainst the valve-ball.
 8. A ball-valve including a valve-housing havinga valve-chamber therein and an inlet thereto and an outlet therefromopposite each other, a generally U-shaped valve-ball in saidvalve-chamber, the U shape of said valve-ball being formed by a channeltherethrough which extends thereinto beyond the axis thereof, saidU-shaped valve-ball being arranged to rotate about an axis at a rightangle to the plane in which the axes of said inlet and outlet lie, saidchannel in said valve-ball forming a fluid passageway extendingtherethrough, said passageway being generally U-shaped in cross-sectionin a plane at a right angle thereto and in which its axis of rotationlies and being open on one side thereof to give the valve-ball itsU-shape, and the ends thereof operatively registering with said inletand outlet, respectively, when the valve-ball is in its fully openposition, the outer surfaces of the legs of the U of said valve-ballbeing spherical segments of the outer spherical surface and thevalve-ball co-axial with its axis of rotation, said valve-ball beingrotatably supported within said valve-chamber without contact with thewalls thereof by the two below-described circular ball-mountingsealing-rings mounted in the valve-housing in operative juxtaposition tosaid inlet and outlet, respectively, each of said ball-mountingsealing-rings supportingly contacting the outer spherical surface of thevalve-ball in its fully open position along a continuous annulus-shapedarea which is substantially more than a half circle and the downstreamball-supporting sealing-ring supportingly contacting the outer sphericalsurface of the valve-ball in its fully closed position along afull-circular annulus-shaped area and the upstream ball-mountingsealing-ring supportingly contacting the outer spherical surfaces of thefree ends of the legs of the U of the valve-ball in its fully closedposition along two separated concentric and diametrically oppositeannulus-shaped areas, one above and one below the median plane betweenthe legs of the U, and a flow-affecting notch across a lip at an end ofsaid generally U-shaped through passageway of said valve-ball andextending radially outwardly from said passageway, said notch beinggenerally disposed in proximity of the diametral plane of the valve-ballwhich is generally at a righT angle to its axis of rotation and in whichthe axes of the inlet and outlet lie, the end of said notch which is inthe spherical surface of the valve-ball being outside the full-circularannulus-shaped sealing-contact area between said spherical surface andthe ball-mounting sealing-ring when the valve ball is in its closedposition.
 9. A ball valve according to claim 8, having a glassvalve-housing and a glass valve-ball.
 10. A ball valve according toclaim 8, in which the flow-affecting notch is V shaped.
 11. A ball valveaccording to claim 8, in which the flow-affecting notch is cardioidshaped.
 12. A valve ball according to claim 8 in which the valve housingis tubular and has a generally cylindrical bore constituting thevalve-chamber therein and in which there are two stationary end-membersat and extending transversely across the ends of such valve-housing andconstituting closures at the ends of said valve-housing constituting theends of the valve-chamber, at least one of which end-members beingdetachably secured to the valve-housing, and in which such twoend-members press the ball mounting and sealing rings against thevalve-ball.
 13. A ball-valve including a valve-housing having avalve-chamber therein and an inlet thereto and an outlet therefromopposite each other, a generally U-shaped valve-ball rotatably supportedin said valve-chamber, the U shape of said valve-ball being formed by achannel therethrough which extends thereinto beyond the axis thereof,said U-shaped valve-ball being arranged to rotate about an axis at aright angle to the plane in which the axes of said inlet and outlet lie,said channel in said valve-ball forming a fluid passageway extendingtherethrough, said passageway being generally U-shaped in cross-sectionin a plane at a right angle thereto and in which its axis of rotationlies and being open on one side thereof to give the valve-ball its Ushape, and the ends thereof operatively registering with said inlet andoutlet, respectively, when the valve-ball is in its fully open position,the outer surfaces of the legs of the U of said valve-ball beingspherical segments of the outer spherical surface of the valve-ballco-axial with its axis of rotation, and two circular ball-sealing ringsmounted in the valve-housing in operative juxtaposition to said inletand outlet, respectively, each of said ball-sealing rings contacting aspherical surface of the valve-ball in its fully open position along acontinuous annulus-shaped area which is substantially more than a halfcircle and the downstream ball-sealing ring contacting the sphericalsurface of the valve-ball in its fully closed position along afull-circular annulus-shaped area and the upstream ball-sealing ringcontacting the outer spherical surfaces of the free ends of the legs ofthe U of the valve-ball in its fully closed position along two separatedconcentric and diametrically opposite annulus-shaped areas, one aboveand one below the median plane between the legs of the U.
 14. Aball-valve according to claim 13, having a glass valve-housing and aglass valve-ball.
 15. A valve-ball according to claim 14 in which thevalve-housing is tubular and has a generally cylindrical boreconstituting the valve-chamber therein and in which there are twostationary end-members at and extending transversely across the ends ofsuch valve-housing and constituting closures at the ends of saidvalve-housing constituting the ends of the valve-chambers, at least oneof which end-members being detachably secured to the valve-housing, andin which such two end-members press the ball mounting and sealing ringsagainst the valve-ball.
 16. A valve-ball according to claim 13 in whichthe valve-housing is tubular and has a generally cylindrical boreconstituting the valve-chamber therein and in which there are twostationary end-members at and extending transversely across the ends ofsuch valve-housing and constituting closures at the ends of saidvalve-housing coNstituting the ends of the valve-chambers, at least oneof which end-members being detachably secured to the valve-housing, andin which such two end-members press the ball mounting and sealing ringsagainst the valve-ball.